Best compressors for Sonar?

I have the PSP vintage warmer, and am ruining Sonar pro 7, And I'm already considering a UAD card, so asside from all of that? Does anyone have any compelling "really good" comressors? (That will work well with Sonar) Already have all the stuff that comes w/Sonar.

Thanks.

Kjaerhus GCO-1. Great Compressor.

I like the Waves SSL and API stuff - it's pretty good. I have a UAD and VST wise you can't beat their LA's and 1176's - just awesome.

Between the Waves (mostly use the API 2500 compressor or the SSL channel which of course includes compression) and UAD not much else gets into my mix.

Also - the SSL stereo buss compressor is SCHWEET! It's on just about everything I do - with the "Alge - Finalizer" preset.

I do love the PSP Vintage Warmer though. It's 'analog tape' presets with a little tweaking just do wonders for a mix.

I'm really looking forward to the moment I try a compressor and go "wow, THAT's a great compressor". I haven't experienced it yet, in any of the studio environments where I've worked. In the meantime, I slap Sonitus Compressor on my tracks. It's easy to make it do what I want!

Sven

What's a "really good" compressor? Doesn't it depend on what you want the compressor to do, and what you want it to do it *to*? What are you using it for? To color the sound? What's the sound? What kind of color? Or do you want it to be transparent? Wouldn't being transparent mean that you couldn't hear it? Well then, why not just put it in bypass? Or not use it at all?

ORIGINAL: boten

Kjaerhus GCO-1. Great Compressor.

Is this any different to the compressors in VC-64? (VC-64 is the Kjaerhus Golden Channel with a different skin).

UnderTow

The term "good compressor" all depends on the particular application and sound source, with that being said I like the vintage channel also.

I suspect that what folks call "great" compressors are the ones they can't screw up no matter how badly they abuse them. I'm sure this is why Ozone is always on everyone's list - it's pretty hard to make it sound bad.

The hard truth is that most users do not fully understand how compressors work. Many on a quest for a "great" compressor are just frustrated by poor results from whatever plug they're currently using, when in reality the sonic difference between high-end compressors and garden-variety compressors is not as huge as you might think.

I'd suggest that before anyone gets out the credit card for a new compressor, that they first spend some quality time with the Sonitus compressor they already have. It is quite capable of good results, so you may find that it's all you really need, or if not, at least you'll be better prepared to evaluate alternatives.

I am not insinuating that the OP doesn't know how to use a compressor. But it is the most complex effect in your toolbox and takes the longest to master. I just don't want to see folks throwing money at a problem that money may not fix.

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue

I find I can get by with Sonitus FX Compressor just fine.

I can totally agree with this. I keep spending $ for all this so claimed stuff and keep coming back to the Sontius FX Suite. These are great tools and very underrated by many.

I do have a couple of outboard comps that I use on the way in but not much.

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue

I guess if people are willing to watch a video by a dance club DJ to learn about using a stack of compressors...

Then they might be interested in reading some opinions by this guy:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/bruce-swedien/83046-compression-kids.html

I'm predisposed to Mr Swedien's way of thinking and subsequently... I find I can get by with Sonitus FX Compressor just fine.

That was an interesting thread. It somehow led me to this 2006 interview with Bruce Swedien. http://www.mixbuss.com/article.php?id=130

This bit was especially informative (perhaps a bit off topic, but it adds some context and color to the discussion.)

<<< Ok, so what about monitoring?

I have my Westlakes and they go with me everywhere. Quincy says that moving with me from studio to studio is like moving the Fifty Army. It takes 25 Anvil cases to move my speakers, mics, cables, and stuff. Even with the industry in the condition it is in today, I still get calls to do gigs with all my stuff, and it costs a fortune to move. In those cases are my Westlake speakers, and my Electocompaniet monitor amplifiers. I use an amplifier made in Norway, and I use the Westlakes that Glenn Phoenix designed and they are passive bi-amps. There is no electronic circuitry in the speaker. The monitor amps are connected directly to the drivers. And I use Monster Cable, which I love. >>>

He then goes on to say what mics he uses to record the sound of the second assistant engineer's second, third, and fourth assistant engineers unpacking the Anvil cases (and the compressors they don't use to faithfully preserve the transients of the Anvil latches being flipped), and then moving them into storage so that their empty cavities don't throw off the frequency response of the room (and the compressors they reluctantly use to raise the level of the fourth assistant engineer's second assistant cursing out Mr. Swedien under his breath.)

Hardly surprising then that he still gets calls to do gigs with all his stuff, even though it costs a fortune to move, because when you're recording Jennifer Lopez's new album, not only can't you afford to compromise on quality... there's no need to!

Yah I think most people's "great" factor is an aesthetic one or a usability one.

The Sonitus compressor is incredibly adequate for compression duties.

VintageWarmer (OP's default) is AWESOME. Granted it's more than a compressor, and has "a sound" to it, but I love it. VC-64 also has it's own character.

I'm like CJ, I default to Waves Ren Compressor because it's easy, obvious, and has just a hint of some kind of analog distortion I like at high ratios.

But if you're not looking for something that imparts it's own "sound" on the signal, stick with the basics.

See - this is exactly what I mean - I really dig this guy's work - I honestly do. The Fog People is an amazing project. Reading such posts make me want to go back to my good old Ren Comp. But it's not about the tools. Personnaly, I've had more success w/ the Sonitus comp than I've had w/ Ren Comp. So I'll go after the spirit instead...

ORIGINAL: ...wicked

Yah I think most people's "great" factor is an aesthetic one or a usability one.

The Sonitus compressor is incredibly adequate for compression duties.

VintageWarmer (OP's default) is AWESOME. Granted it's more than a compressor, and has "a sound" to it, but I love it. VC-64 also has it's own character.

I'm like CJ, I default to Waves Ren Compressor because it's easy, obvious, and has just a hint of some kind of analog distortion I like at high ratios.

But if you're not looking for something that imparts it's own "sound" on the signal, stick with the basics.

I keep comming back to the Timeworks comp & limiter. It came with one of the earlier versions of Cake so I'm not sure whether it can still be had from them of not.
It's pretty clean and straight forward like the Sonitus, but it seems to run a little differently and has some other nice features.

ORIGINAL: Rain
See - this is exactly what I mean - I really dig this guy's work - I honestly do. The Fog People is an amazing project.

haha, thanks man! It's funny I saw your post on another thread and said "sheesh I haven't seen him post in a while, lemme check his history and see what's up..." and lo and behold, you dropped me a kudos!

there's no links in your sig, where's some samples of your work???

+1 for waves API 2500, SSL channel (and SSL Buss compressor on the master buss).